Key-operated fire hydrant



Jan. 20, 1959 w. c. KENNEDY 2,869,576

KEY-OPERATED FIRE HYDRANT Filed March 7, 1958 J8 INVENTOR. \mLuAM C.KENNEDY United States Patent 2,869,576 KEY-OPERATED FIRE HYDRANT WilliamC. Kennedy, Chicago, Ill.

Application March 7, 1958, Serial No. 719,794

2 Claims. (Cl. 137Z96) This invention relates to water hydrants, andmore particularly to an improved fire hydrant.

The main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved firehydrant which is simple in construction, which is neat in appearance,and which is protected against operation by unauthorized persons.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved fire hydrantwhich is inexpensive to fabricate, which is arranged so that it may notbe operated by unauthorized persons, which is attractive in appearance,and which can be operated only by the use of a key member, the hydrantbeing so arranged that the outlets thereof are normally covered andcan-only be uncovered when the hydrant is unlocked.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and claims, and from the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved fire hydrant constructedin accordance with the present invention, shown in normal lockedposition.

Figure 2 is a perspective view, similar to Figure 1,

showing the fire hydrant in unlocked position, ready for use.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 33 ofFigure 1.

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 ofFigure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional detail view showing amodification of the hydrant wherein a pivoted flap member is providedwhich normally covers the aperture in the hand wheel skirt member.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 ofFigure 5.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 to 4, 11generally designates a fire hydrant constructed in accordance with thepresent invention, the hydrant 11 comprising a conventional internalhydrant member 12 which extends vertically, as shown in Figure 3, andwhich is provided on its upper portion with a plurality of manuallyremovable caps-13, allowing water to be discharged from the hydrant whensaid caps are removed. The main hydrant member 12 is also provided witha vertical valve-operating shaft 14 which projects axially from its topend. The main hydrant member 12 is opened to allow water to dischargetherefrom responsive to the rotation of the valve shaft 14 from itsnormal closed position to its open position.

In accordance with the present invention, the shaft 14 is formed at itstop end with a squared portion 15, and rigidly secured to the squaredportion 15 at its top end is a generally circular skirt member 16, saidskirt member being fastened rigidly at its center to the squared shaftelement 15. Skirt member 16 has the depending annular Wall portion 17,the bottom rim of said wall portion 17 being formed with the radialspaced, inwardly directed lugs 18. Designated at 19 is a sleeve memberwhich surrounds the main hydrant element 12 and which is verticallymovable thereon, the sleeve member 19 being of suflicient height tocover the upper portion of the hydrant, namely, the portion containingthe caps 13 and their associated discharge spouts. The sleeve member 19is formed at its top end with the evenly spaced, outwardly projectinglugs 20, said lugs 20 being engageable over the lugs 18 of skirt member16, whereby to support the sleeve 19 in its elevated position, shown inFigure 3. The width of the lugs 20 is slightly less than the distancebetween the lugs 18 of the skirt member, so that the skirt member may bedisengaged from the sleeve member 19 to allowthe sleeve member to belowered to the dotted view position thereof shown in Figure 3 and thefull line view thereof shown in Figure 2, exposing the cap elements 13,and allowing connections to be made to their associated dischargeconduit elements.

Rigidly secured to the top of the-main. hydrant member 12 is a bracket21 having the upstanding portion 22 through which is threadedly engageda set screw 23 which is lockingly engageable with the squared valveshaft portion 15, as shown in Figure 3. Set screw 23 is provided withthe squared outer end portion 24 adapted to be engaged by thecorrespondingly shaped socket portion of a suitable key member 25 whichis ensertable through an aperture 26 formedin the annular depending wallportion 17 of skirt member 16 said aperture being located so that it maybe substantially registered with the set screw 23. ;Thus, by insertingthe key 25 and loosening the set screw 23, the valve shaft 14 may bereleased, and the valve may be opened by rotating the skirt member 16,which serves as a hand wheel. Access to the caps 13 may be obtained byrotating the sleeve member 19 sufliciently to disengage the lugs 20 fromthe lugs 18, allowing the lugs 20 to pass downwardly through the spacesbetween the lugs 18, whereby the sleeves 19 may be lowered to theposition thereof shown in Figure 2, and whereby the caps 13 may beexposed.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, a flap member 27 may be pivoted to theinside surface of the depending annular wall 17, as by providing a pairof pivot lugs 28, 28 adjacent the upper corners of the aperture 26, theflap 27 being provided with a pivot pin 29 secured to its top margin andprojecting laterally therefrom at the opposite ends of the flap member,the pin 29 extending rotatably through the pivot lugs 28, 28. The flapmember 27 is substantially larger than the aperture 26 and is providedat its bottom edge with a depending, rectangular lug 30. The lug 30engages between a pair of adjacent lugs 20, locking the sleeve 19against rotation with respect to the skirt member 16. However, when asuitable key 25 is inserted through the aperture 26, the flap member 27is swung upwardly, allowing the key to be engaged on the squared end 24of the set screw 23 and releasing the sleeve 19 so that it may berotated relative to the skirt member 16.

While the top portion 15 of shaft 14 is illustrated as being squared, itmay have any other desired crosssectional shape, Within the spirit ofthe present invention, such that it may be lockingly engaged by the setscrew 23.

The sleeve or barrel member 19 constitutes a protective device whichguards against the theft of the nozzle caps of the main hydrantmember'12, concealing same, and making tampering with the nozzle capsdifiicult and conspicuous. Thus the use of the sleeve or barrel member19 is a deterrent to malicious mischief and prevents damage to thehydrant and theft of parts thereof by vandals. The substitution of thehandwheel skirt member 16 for an operating wrench prevents unauthorizedoperation of the hydrant by a makeshift wrench, as has often occurredheretofore with conventional hydrants. By the use of the key and setscrew arrangement of the present invention, unauthorized persons cannotoperate the hydrant, and tampering therewith is reduced to a minimum.

drant has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will beunderstood that various modifications within the spirit of the inventionmay occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that nolimitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a vertical hydrant having an axial rotatable valveshaft projecting from its top end and having manually removable capsmounted on its upper portion, a generally circular skirt member securedto the top end of said valve shaft, said skirt member being formed withan aperture, a plurality of inwardly directed lugs on the rim of saidskirt member, a cover sleeve surrounding said hydrant and beingvertically movable thereon, said sleeve being of sufiicient height tocover the upper portion of said hydrant, outwardly projecting lugs onthe top portion of said sleeve engageable over said first-named lugs,said skirt member being rotatable to at times disengage the first-namedlugs from the second-named lugs to release said cover sleeve, whereby toallow the sleeve to descend and expose said caps, a closure flap hingedto the inside wall of said-skirt member and normally overlying saidaperture, and aprojection'on said flap engage'able between I the pair ofadjacent lugs on the top portion of the sleeve in the position of saidflapoverlying said aperture for preventing relative rotation of saidskirt member and said cover sleeve.

2. In combination, a vertical hydrant having an axial rotatable valveshaft projecting from its top end and having manually removable capsmounted on its upper portion, the top end of said shaft having a squaredportion, a vertical bracket member on the top of the hydrant adjacentsaid valve shaft, a horizontal set screw threaded through said bracketmember and being lockingly engageable with said squared portion forpreventing rotation of I said shaft, a generally circular skirt memberaxially secured to the top end of said valve shaft, said skirt memberbeing formed with an aperture'registrable with said set screw, a closureflap hinged to the inside wall of said skirt member and normallyoverlying said aperture, a plurality of inwardly directed, evenly spacedlugs on the rim of said skirt member, a cover sleeve surrounding saidhydrant and being vertically movable thereon, said sleeve being ofsufiicient height to cover the upper portion of said hydrant, outwardlyprojecting, evenly spaced lugs on the top portion of said sleeveengageable over said firstnamed lugs, said skirt member being rotatableto at times disengage the first-named lugs from the second-named lugs torelease said cover sleeve, whereby to allow the sleeve to descend andexpose said caps, and a projection on said flap engageable between apair of adjacent lugs on the top portion of the sleeve in the positionof said flap overlying said aperture for preventing relative rotation ofsaid skirt member and said cover sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

